Cap attachment for drinking from cans

ABSTRACT

The invention solves a problem of enjoying beverages from a can in cases where the user cannot or does not want to pour the beverage into a glass. The invention is made so we can push it into the can opening (E 1 ). It can be made out of a single piece, preferably plastic, which includes following core parts: the part for drinking (A), the part for insertion into the can and sealing (B), the cap for closing (C) and preferably a connective part (D) with which the cap (C) is connected with a part for drinking (A). If the invention is made without the connective part (D), it is made out of two pieces where the part for drinking (A) and part for insertion and sealing (B) are a single piece and the cap (C) is another.

The present invention refers to an attachment for drinking out of cans with a cap, specifically a utensil that enables the user to consume beverages from cans in a simple and hygienic manner and provides an option of closing the can after use.

This invention addresses the problem of consuming beverages in the instance where consumer does not have an option of pouring the beverage into a glass or they simply do not want to. Drinking directly from a can has its disadvantages: consumers can often spill their drink, mouth-to-can contact is neither pleasant nor hygienic and insects often get into the can, which can be deadly in case of wasps, giant hornets or bees. This invention addresses the technical problem of designing a cap that can be easily attached to an open can and provides an option to close the cap if we decide to take a break during drinking.

Some inventions that solve the problem of consuming canned beverages already exist. Inventions patented under U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,444, U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,358 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,286,827 all solve the problem with a cap that fits the entire rim of a can. A disadvantage of those caps is their large size. Moreover, in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 8,286,827 there is no concern for hygiene since the liquid is spilled on the top of the can before coming in contact with the mouth. U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,358 solves a problem of hygiene but lacks the ease of use.

There are also other inventions in the form of attachments for vacuum flasks, plastic bottles and other drink containers, such as EP 2216262 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,624, but they are not modified to be used on cans.

Unlike existing solutions, the invention described in the present patent application, can be easily inserted into the can, all the while being very small.

An example of invention will be described and shown in the figures that show:

FIG. 1: Invention in isometric projection

FIG. 2: Ground plan of the invention—without cap

FIG. 3: Side section of the invention

FIG. 4: Procedure of attaching the invention onto a can—isometric projection

FIG. 5: Procedure of attaching the invention onto a can—ground plan

FIG. 6: Demonstration of the use of the invention

The key point of the invention described the present patent application is that its shape is adapted to the size of the can opening E1, after the can E is opened with the help of an added opener E2. There are only several different sizes of these openings, but their shape remains the same more or less. Concrete versions of the invention have to be tailored for particular versions of these openings E1.

The invention is made of a single piece, which is comprised of the following essential parts: part A for drinking, part B for insertion and sealing, closing cap or a lid C and preferentially a connective part D with which the cap C is connected with a drinking part A. If the invention is made without the connective part D it is made of two parts or pieces where parts A and B are a single piece and the cap C is another.

The drinking part A consists of an upper drinking part A1, which is the part that comes into contact with the consumers mouth and a lower part A2, which is a part that gets attached to the can opening. Alongside the drinking part A is an opening A3, through which the liquid can come through. The drinking part A is designed around the can opening E1 that appears when one opens the can with the help of the can opener E2 that is a component of the can E and is preferentially c-shaped.

The part for insertion B is made of a front part B1, which enables simple insertion into the can, and a sealing part B2, which surrounds the drinking part A and tightens the area between the cap and the can so the drink does not spill and the liquid only passes through the opening A3 and not on the edges of an open can E1. Part B at the same time also ensures that the invention is firmly attached in the can E and does not slip into it. This is solved by the part under the upper part for drinking A1, i.e. the sealing part B being bigger and covering upper, visible side of the can opening while the tooth (outgrowth) A4 fits the central inner part of the can opening E1.

The front part for insertion B1 is designed in the shape of two outgrowths (teeth) that enable easy positioning of the part A2 in the can opening E1. Other variations with more outgrowths (teeth) are possible as well.

The closing cap C is made of a lid C2 and part C1, which goes inside of the drinking part A upon closing. The notch C3 fits precisely into part A and ensures that the cap C seals properly.

The procedure of inserting the invention into the can and using the cap C is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The invention is inserted into the can opening E1 with the front part for insertion B1 which is inserted into the space between the part E2 and the upper part of the can E. The entire part under the part B then becomes hidden inside the can. When not drinking, one can seal the opening A3 with the cap C, as shown on a third picture on FIGS. 4 and 5. If one wants to re-use the cap, they can simply remove it from the can E by holding the upper drinking part A1 bending it slightly towards the can opener E2 and pulling it out of the can opening E3.

The invention is made from a material harmless to health, not too hard, so that it can be easily inserted and at the same time not too soft so it still provides an easy consumption of beverages. That is why we preferably use plastic.

FIG. 6 shows the use of invention—enjoying beverage from a can, with an inserted invention. 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. Attachment for drinking out of cans with a cap characterized in that it consists of a drinking part (A), part for insertion and sealing (B) and a cap for closing (C), and preferentially a connecting part (D) with which the cap (C) is connected with a drinking part (A).
 12. Attachment for drinking according to claim 11 characterized in that, if the invention is without a connecting part (0) it is made out of two pieces, where the drinking part (A) and inserting part (B) are a single piece and the cap (C) is another, in the case of a connecting part (D) the invention is in one piece.
 13. Attachment for drinking according to claim 11 characterized in that the drinking part (A) includes an upper drinking part (A1), which is a part with which the consumer comes in contact with his/her mouth and a bottom part: (A2), which is a part that is pushed in the can, wherein alongside the whole drinking part (A) is an opening for thinking A3 through which the can liquid comes out.
 14. Attachment for drinking according to claim 13 characterized in that the part for drinking (A) is preferentially shaped like the letter c, which is the same shape as the opening in the can (E1) that occurs when the can (E) is opened with the help of an opener (E2), which is a part of a can (E).
 15. Attachment for drinking according to claim 11 characterized in that the part for inserting (B) includes the front part for insertion and positioning (B1), which enables easy insertion of the invention into the can opening (E1) and a sealing part (B2) that surrounds the part for drinking (A) and enables sealing so that the drink does not spill when tilted and only comes out through the opening (A3) and not on the inside of can open can (E1) edges, tight integration into the can (E) is also made possible by a tooth or outgrowth (A4) out of the sealing part (B) that fits that fits the central inner part of the can opening (E1) and by having on each side at least two teeth or outgrowths (B1).
 16. Attachment for drinking according to claim 15 characterized in that the front part for insertion (B1) preferentially made in the form of two outgrowths that make simple insertion and positioning of the attachment into the can opening (E1) possible, but other variations are also possible, for example with more outgrowths.
 17. Attachment for drinking according to claim 11 characterized in that the cap for closing (C) includes the lid (C2), bottom part (C1), which goes inside of the drinking part (A) upon closing, a notch (C3) that fits the shape of a drinking part (A) and enables good sealing of a cap (C).
 18. Procedure of inserting, taking out and closing the attachment for drinking out of cans characterized in that the attachment for drinking out of a can is inserted into the can opening (E1) first by positioning the front part for insertion (B1) and then pushed into the opening (E1) with the whole bottom part (A2), which is now hidden in the can (E).
 19. Procedure according to claim 18 characterized in that during breaks while drinking we can close the cap opening (A3) with a cap (C).
 20. Procedure according to claim 18 characterized in that, if one wants to re-use the inserted cap for drinking out of they can pull it out of the can (E) by holding the upper part for drinking (A1), slightly tilt it toward the can opener (E2) and then pull it out of the can opening (E3).
 21. Attachment for drinking out of cans with a cap that consists of a drinking part (A), part for insertion and sealing (B) and a cap for closing (C), and preferentially a connecting part (D) with which the cap (C) is connected with a drinking part (A) where the part for inserting (B) includes the front part for insertion and positioning (B1), made of two teeth or outgrowths which enables insertion of the invention into the can opening (E1) and a sealing part (B2) that surrounds the part for drinking (A) and partly enables sealing so that the drink does not spill when tilted and only comes out through the opening (A3) and not on the inside of can open can (E1) edges, characterized in that the part for drinking (A) is preferentially shaped like the letter c, which is the same shape as the opening in the can (E1) that occurs when the can (E) is opened with the help of an opener (E2), which is a part of a can (E).
 22. Attachment for drinking according to claim 1 characterized in that the part for inserting (B) includes besides the front part for insertion and positioning (B1), a tooth or outgrowth (A4) out of the sealing part (B) that fits the central inner part of the can opening (E1) and enables tight integration into the can (B).
 23. Attachment for drinking according to claim 21 characterized in that the cap for closing (C) includes a notch (C3) that fits the shape of a drinking part (A) and enables good sealing of a cap (C).
 24. Attachment for drinking according to claim 21 characterized in that the attachment is inserted into the can opening (E1) first by positioning the front par for insertion (B1) over the opening (E1) and a tooth outgrowth (A4) under the opening (E1) and then pushed into the opening (E1) with the whole bottom part (A2), which is now hidden in the can (E) and if one wants to re-use the inserted cap for drinking out of they can pull it out of the can (E) by holding the upper part for drinking (A1), slightly tilt it toward the can opener (E2) and then pull it out of the can opening (E3). 